DICE has 'heard the message very clear' and is now prioritizing larger maps for Battlefield 6, but 'it takes a really long time'

battlefield 6 season 2 — (Image credit: EA)

Talk to anyone playing Battlefield 6 about what they'd like in the game right about now, and maps will certainly come up. Folks want more maps in Battlefield 6, but not just any will do—they want large ones with open space, lots of capture points, and support for air vehicles.

Too few of BF6's launch maps checked those boxes, and after months of vaguely saying it's listening to that feedback, DICE is finally saying it will also act on that feedback.

DICE has indicated that the Golmud Railway remake has been prioritized specifically to address map size in Battlefield 6—the map won't make the cut for Season 2, but its numerous test periods suggest the team wants it out as soon as possible.

Both Season 2 maps, Contaminated and Hagental Base, were already planned before launch, but DICE producer Kit Eklöf says one actionable change made before Contaminated's launch was its fly zones—the area outside the map where air vehicles are allowed to fly. Playtests in BF Labs revealed they were too small, so DICE widened its fly zones for launch.

Battlefield 6 Season 2 Official Gameplay Trailer - YouTube

Watch On

I asked DICE if the "bigger is better" approach could trickle down to existing maps that've been criticized for their restrictive, cramped layouts (looking at you, Sobek City). The answer was understandable, but disappointing: the team's priority is the next map they have to make, so don't expect any major developments there.

"For the maps, we try to make changes for the ones that are currently in development," Girette said. "And then we look further ahead, as you said. It takes a really long time to make these maps. We're somewhat, not limited, but we have to be very targeted in what we do…I think we will definitely take a look at the existing maps, but there's nothing we could announce that is going to happen within Season 2."

Even with the resources of four distinct studios across the globe, Battlefield 6 is a large ship that turns slowly. The first wave of Season 2 content is out now, with more coming in March and April.

TOPICS

Morgan has been writing for PC Gamer since 2018, first as a freelancer and currently as a staff writer. He has also appeared on Polygon, Kotaku, Fanbyte, and PCGamesN. Before freelancing, he spent most of high school and all of college writing at small gaming sites that didn't pay him. He's very happy to have a real job now. Morgan is a beat writer following the latest and greatest shooters and the communities that play them. He also writes general news, reviews, features, the occasional guide, and bad jokes in Slack. Twist his arm, and he'll even write about a boring strategy game. Please don't, though.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.